Better than dead mice?

[susandennis]

I woke up this morning to find in my bed:

• me
• Travis
• 5 balls of yarn from the basket in the living room

And then I found another half a dozen on the floor and under the bed. We clearly have an issue. I think the solution is going to need to be a covered pic-a-nic basket like seekerval suggests. There's a World Market in the path of my travels today so I guess I'll be stopping in there for a look at options.

Comments

[letmesaythis.livejournal.com]

Zha-Zha always shreds paper plates, paper towels, plastic cups and plastic hangers all over the house. I feel your pain.

[susandennis]

ohhh thanks for that - now I feel better. At least he does not destroy the yarn and it's easy to find and pick up.

The main problem is that he's like a two year old tossing food from a high chair. He grabs a ball. I put it back (and spray him with the spray bottle). He grabs a ball. I put it back (and spray him with the spray bottle). He grabs... you get the picture.

Last night after about 10 minutes of this, he finally gave up (for a while, anyway) and hopped up into my lap - and he was soooo wet!

[kyrielle]

Maybe like a two-year-old (and like Ray, for that matter), punishment won't "take" because he doesn't really get it (or maybe doesn't mind the water). Redirection is the world. Take the yarn back, and immediately toss out something else that he is allowed to play with, trying to get his attention diverted.

That, however, doesn't work any time you're not vigilantly watching the yarn basket. I think the covered basket is a better long-term solution.

Of course, the most satisfying "no!" I have ever watched delivered to Ray was when he was clawing the rug under the dinner table, trying to dig under. Scott persists in using the spray bottle even though Ray doesn't seem to care, but he didn't have a spray bottle in reach. I said "Watch out, Ray, all he has is a water glass" - and sure enough, Scott took the water glass and tipped a good 1-2 tablespoons of it over onto the cat. Who jumped like...well, like someone poured water on him. Apparently he doesn't like it quite THAT much.

[jwg.livejournal.com]

Maybe when he grows up he'll learn to knit??

[susandennis]

If I don't kill him first!

[dizzdvl.livejournal.com]

Hee! I love Travis! I know he's being a PITA but it's so cute.

[geordie.livejournal.com]

What a bright cat! Clearly he has noticed you have a yarn habit and he's making sure you have all that you might need when you wake. It's not like he winds them all round the house, like BC.

[gavin.livejournal.com]

maybe you should give him his own yarn basket...

[susandennis]

ha! there's an idea.